Data Protection Specialist

What will you be doing?

You will:

• Support the Data Protection Officer (DPO) and the Deputy DPO in ensuring the organisation complies with its obligations under UK Data Protection Legislation, as well as adhering to internal and national standards; and following good practice in relation to information governance.
• Provide high quality information governance advice across the organisation, including but not limited to: 
  • Advising staff, contractors and elected members on data handling and data processing in line with UK Data Protection legislation;
  • Supporting directorates in drawing up Data Sharing Agreements and / or external contracts or legal agreements with third parties; and
  • Supporting directorates in the completion of Data Protection Impact Assessments and Privacy Notices.
• Support the organisations services in relation to data incidents; and advice on technical or organisational changes, to minimise immediate risks and mitigate future breaches.
• Assist with the development, review and implementation of policies and procedures in relation to Information Governance and Records Management.
• Contribute towards the completion of the Data Security & Protection Toolkit, to ensure the organisation reaches the required security levels to allow access to patient data.
• Assist the DPO and the Deputy DPO with the development and implementation of the Information Governance Strategy and Framework; to support the organisation in meeting its Information Governance obligations, to include: data flow maps, the organisation’s Information Asset Register and Record of Processing Activities, and data audits.
• Handle and / or assist in handling complex complaints received directly from a complainant or via the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO); conduct robust and thorough investigations and provide comprehensive responses.
• Keep up to date with changes in relevant legislation and best practice.
• Use your decision-making skills to interpret data protection legislation and ensure that the data protection principles are upheld and adhered to.
• Maintain effective working relationships across the organisation to ensure that all stakeholders understand and meet their responsibilities in the delivery of Data Protection.
• Assist the Data Requests Team as and when required, in particular with Subject Access Requests, ensuring statutory timeframes and obligations are met.
• Be responsible for your own caseload.
• Carry out the role in line with council policies, procedures and training material.
• Be working independently, with the ability to use your own initiative to produce work to high standard.
• Attend Team Meetings and contribute ideas and initiatives.

About you

You will:

• Be educated to Degree Level (or equivalent) or extensive practical experience in a relevant discipline.
• Have excellent subject matter knowledge and understanding of data protection, records management legislation and good practice.
• Experience of developing, reviewing, delivering, managing and recommending improvements in policies and procedures, controls, monitoring systems and performance to support effective information governance and data protection.
• Experience of completing Data Protection Impact Assessments, developing Data Sharing Agreements and Privacy Notices and understanding records management.
• Experience of investigating and reviewing Information Governance incidents, breaches and issues; and recommending measures to reduce recurrence.
• Recent experience of working in a similar role in a complex organisation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; verbal, written / presentation and listening, with the ability to build effective relationships within and outside of the organisation.
• Be confident in communicating and providing advice.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects, and to prioritise workloads with tight and conflicting deadlines with minimum supervision. 
• Be a methodical individual who enjoys team working. Equally you will be able to work with minimum supervision, be proactive and take a pragmatic approach in pressurised situations.
• Ability to make decisions independently.
• Ability to maintain high levels of performance under challenging conditions.

Our benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our Key Commitments

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

North Northamptonshire Council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 which highlights the Council’s pledge to support the Armed Forces community. The council obtained the silver status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and we are now currently working towards achieving Gold status.

We aim to be a carbon neutral Council by 2030.

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)